Collapsible life-boat.



G. G. SCHWABEK.

COLLAPSIBLE LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1915.

1,142,986. Patented June 15, 1915.

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G. G. SCHWABEK.

COLLAPSIBLE LIFE BOAT. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1915.

Patented June 15, 1915.

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@NTD STATES ATENT FFECE.

GEORGE G. SCHWABEK, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-THIRD TO WILLIAM H. ZEIGLER, OF NEW FREEDOM, PENNSYLVANIA.

COLLAPSIBLE LIFE-BOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1915.

Application filed February 19, 1915. Serial No. 9,373.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE G. SoHwABnK, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Im provements in Collapsible Life-Boats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collapsible life boats, the object of the invention being to produce a boat of the character referred to which may be instantly collapsed and as quickly expanded or spread into its normal condition to serve as an efiicient boat, the construction thereof avoiding any possibility of the boat sinking even though it may be overturned and filled with water.

A further object of the invention is to produce a boat of the character referred to in which all parts of the boat are permanently connected together so that every ele ment thereof is ready for instant operation, preventing the loss of any part or element of the boat and thereby adding further to the practical value and utility of the boat for emergency and life saving purposes.

lrVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as herein described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a plan view of a collapsible life boat embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken centrally of the boat. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section taken about centrally of the boat. Fig. 5 is a section taken on the same line as Fig. 4 showing the boat collapsed. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section showing the joint at one end of the combined spreader and seat member. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the joint at the other end thereof.

Referring to the drawings 1 and 2 designate the fore and aft stems of the boat frame and A designates generally the keel of the boat which is longitudinally and centrally divided into two equal sections 3 and 4. The front and rear extremities of the sections of the keel are connected by pivots 5 to the lower adjacent end of the stems 1 and 2,

thereby providing for the movement of said stems toward each other and away from each other as the boat is expanded and collapsed as will hereinafter appear.

Supported upon and connected in fixed relation to the keel sections 3 and 4 are the flexible sides 6 each of which is formed or composed of buoyant material such as cork of any desired thickness and shaped to conform to the ordinary shape of the sides of a boat, the said sides as well as the keel and stems being entirely covered outside and inside with water proof material indicated at 7 which is fastened thereto in any suitable manner, as for example by adhesive ma terial, said water proof material serving to protect all parts of the boat and especially the buoyant sides thereof from the action of the water and especiallyfroin the action of the elements when placed for example on the deck of a vessel and exposed to varying weather and climatic conditions.

Upright ribs 8 are fastened to the inner faces of the sides and longitudinal battens 9 are fastened to the outer faces of the sides, the members 8 and 9 mutually assisting in gracing and reinforcing the sides of the oat.

A heavier batten 10 extends along the outer face of the top edges of the sides, giving the necessary strength along the gunwales to provide for equipping the boat with oar locks.

To provide for collapsing and expanding or spreading the boat, the sections 3 and 4 of the keel are connected by strap hinges 11, the knuckles 12 of which are arranged at the proper points to provide for the necessary relative movement of the keel sections and the boat sides. Contained within the boat is a combined spreader and seat designated at 13. This spreader corresponds in shape with the shape of the boat and is located at a suitable elevation above the keel to provide seats for the oarsmen and passengers.

Along its opposite sides the spreader 13 is provided with notches 14 through which the ribs 8 pass, said notches being somewhat elongated in the direction of length of the boat to permit a certain amount of limited movement between said spreader and ribs during the collapsing and expanding operations.

Connected to the stem at one end of the boat and extending inwardly therefrom is a shaft 15 which enters a socket l6v in the adjacent end of the spreader 13. A spring 17 surrounds the shaft 15 and is interposed between the stem and spreader. At the opposite end of the boat, another shaft 18 extends through the stem and is provided at its outer extremity with a squared portion 19 projecting outside of the boat, adapting the same to be turned bv a suitable wrench for the purpose of partiallv revolving the description, it will be understood that all parts of the boat are permanently connected together. To collapse the boat, a wrench is applied to the squared end of the shaft 18 and a quarter turn is given to the spreader 13 until it occupies the position illustrated in Fig. 5, thereby permitting the sides to be folded together in close relation to and upon opposite sides of the spreader. To expand the boat, the same operation is performed,

the spreader being given a quarter turn until it occupies the position shown in Fig. 1. The tendency of the sides to move toward each other provides for suiiicient frictional contact between the sides and spreader to hold the latter in its spreading position. If

desired, additional fastening means may be employed to hold the spreader in its working position.

As a whole the boat is exceedingly simple in construction, may be collapsed or expanded in a very short space oftime and is practically unsinkable even though overturned and filled with water. 1

What I claim is V 1. A collapsible boat embodying a keel, fore and aft stems having'a hinged connection with the keel, flexible sides extending upwardly from the keel and connected to said. stems, and a boat-shaped spreader ar ranged between the sides and stems and pivotally connected with the stems on a longitudinal axis adapting said spreader to be from each other as the boat is expanded and 2. A collapsible boat embodying a keel, fore and aft stems having a hingedconnection with the keel, flexible sides extending upwardly from the keel and connected to said stems, and a boat-shaped spreader arranged between the sides and stems and pivotally connected with the stems on a longitudinal axis adapting said spreader to be turned from a substantially horizontal to a substantially vertical position, and vice versa, and springs interposed between the front and rear extremities of said spreader and said stems for permitting the relative movement of the stems toward and away collapsed.

3. A collapsible boat embodying a keel, fore and aft stems having a hinged 'connecw tion with the keel, flexible sides extending upwardly from the keel and connected to said stems, and a boat-sha ed spreader arranged between the sides and stems and piv otally connected with the stems on a longitudinal axis adapting said spreader to be turned from a substantially horizontal to a substantially vertical position, I and vice versa, and means operable exteriorly of the boat for turning said spreader. V j

1. A collapsible boat embodying a keel, fore-and aft stems having a hinged connec tion with the keel, flexible sides extending upwardly from the keel and connected to said stems, and a boat-shaped spreader ar, ranged between the sides and stems and piv I otally connected with the stems on a longitudinal axis adapting said spreader to be turned from a substantially horizontal to asubstantially vertical position, and vice versa, and a shaft connected fixedly to oneend of said spreader and extending through one of said stems and projecting outside of the same, said shaft havinga non-circular portion adapting it tobe turned by a wrench or the like.

5. A collapsible boat embodying a keel, fore and aft stems having a hinged connection with the keel, flexible sides extending upwardly from the keel and connected to said stems, and a boat-shaped spreader arranged between the sides and stems and piv-' 115 otally connectedwith the stems on a longitudinal axis adapting said spreader to be turned from a substantially horizontal to a substantially vertical position, and vice versa, said spreader being provided with 120 notches along its opposite longitudinal edges, and the sides 'ofthe boat being internally provided with ribs which are received in said notches.

6. A collapsible boat embodying a keel, 12 5 fore and aft stems having a hinged connection with the keel, flexible sides extending upwardly from the keel and connected to said stems, and a boat-shaped spreader arranged between the sides and stems and piv otally connected with the stems on a longi- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature tudinal aXisadapting said spreader to be in presence of two Witnesses. turned from a substantially horizontal to a 4 substantially vertical position, and vice GEORGE SCHWABDK 5 versa, said spreader being constructed and Witnesses:

provided with seats for the occupants of the REXFORD M. SMITH,

boat. BENNETT S. JONES.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. O. 

